Agnisotra: Origin Tails

I woke up and looked out of the window. I looked around. Right, we were in a hotel. I got up and looked at Raishin who was still fast asleep.

What a messy sleeper… His sheets were only covering his right leg and he laid sprawled out on his bed. I decided to check on Agnis and Gregory but they seemed to have left already. I don’t understand how those 2 can go to bed so late and wake up so early, is it possible to be a morning person and an evening person at the same time? I looked at the clock and it was almost 10:00.

I decided to wake up Raishin and head out. Since Agnis is with Gregory, everything should be fine but even still Agnis probably wouldn't do anything to give his location away, this guy, however… Raishin rubbed his eyes and got up.

So, are we going to look for a girlfriend today? You do know that we are here to restock, rest and possibly find out how to get home right?

I’m sure Agnis and Greg can do that just fine! We don’t need all 4 of us to find a way home! Technically he isn't wrong but that doesn't mean we shouldn't help.

Let’s explore the area, it seems we will stay here for quite a while, we also might need to find a way to earn money. Oh right! We’re broke! Any chance they need hunters?

This is a city so I doubt it… Raishin dramatically dropped to the floor.

Nooo! Then how am I going to attract chicks!?! By not being an idiot and earning some money?

Oh, maybe there is a place that needs adventurers! Let's go! My intuition tells me to go east! What wait! Raishin grabbed me and teleported outside, he looked around and wanted to teleport again but I interrupted him by flooring him.

Hey! We are supposed to stay low! Teleporting around will draw attention!

Then how are we supposed to get there then? Do you see these legs? Use them! Come on let's walk!

Meh, fine. I followed Raishin and made sure he didn't step into every restaurant, bar, or place that sold women’s clothing.

Stop being so difficult! Just head over to your goal! I dragged Raishin away from another group of girls he approached. After an hour we managed to reach Raishin’s destination. We stood in front of a huge building that had a large number of people walking in and out.

Hehe, this was easy to find! You say that because you didn't have to control a horny guy going wild…

Such a drama queen! Let’s go inside! Maybe they need help dealing with a strong monster for a lot of cash! What makes you think they would let a newbie do that? Raishin grabbed my arm and dragged me inside the Adventurer Association. We entered a large marble hall. It resembled a small mall but the small shops inside were related to gearing up and getting ready or supplies for adventures. There were also some small cafes and food-related shops. These were all to the side and in the middle, there was this large round registry desk with dozens of employees helping adventurers with requests or handing out rewards.

Whoa! This place looks like a mall! It reminds me a bit of a teleport gate station. I have never taken one but I’ve been inside one before.

Look there in the back there are some small teleport gates over there! Oooh, this place is seriously impressive!

I wonder what they have on the other floors. We looked up. We could look up to the 2nd and 3rd floors and it looked like the doors we saw, were all apartments, but I wasn’t sure. There should be more floors but I couldn't see them from here.

Do adventurers live here? I don’t know, but go ask then! You came here to become an adventurer.

Hmm, yeah but the size and all these people are a bit intimidating… I can’t blame you… It looked like we stepped into a completely different city. Or more like a city within a city. We moved aside because we seemed to be blocking the way of some tough-looking adventurers. Ted look! They have a shop that sells magic weapons! Wait really? We headed over toward the shop and went inside. It was a small shop and that was understandable because magical weapons are quite strong and uncommon.

Hmm, I don’t know much about magical weapons but these look fake.

“You must be new here, of course, these are fake! They are models. The specifications of the real deal are on these labels but this is only so that adventurers can shop for specifications, and see how the weapon looks and the weight. To inspect the real deal, you will have to go to our real shop on the 4th floor.” I guess this is to prevent theft or other shenanigans.

“Correct, now since you guys are probably new, you don’t know this but you’re only allowed to buy any magical weapons after you have reached a certain adventurer rank, more so these things are expensive.” The man handed us a model of a dagger. “This is currently our cheapest magical weapon, take a look.” Ooh, maybe Agnis is interested in this, hmm needed adventurer rank C, dagger proficiency, duh! and 30 gold! What! I can go on like 30 000 dates with 30 gold! Hmm, this is indeed pricey yes. and maybe you shouldn't spend that much on dates Raishin, no wonder you are broke…

“Yup, but adventuring also earns quite well, our weapons range from 30 gold to over 300 gold. But besides those requirements, the adventurers need to be trusted and a magical weapon license is needed to buy it." Is it needed to use it or to buy it? What’s the difference? “Only to buy it, why do you ask?” I know a skilled blacksmith younger than me who’s interested in making a magical weapon. The shopkeeper dropped the model he was holding.

“There are still young blacksmiths interested in making those?! Can you bring him here when you can?!” Is it a big deal?

“Of course, it is! Not many people bother with blacksmithing anymore because why would you if magic is everywhere? And those who are blacksmiths don't bother with magical weapons because they're expensive to make, need a great amount of skill, and are just impossibly hard to make. It is more likely for a normal blacksmith to out-earn a magical weapon blacksmith because of all this. Only the most skilled magical weapon blacksmiths are extremely wealthy and influential.” So, if Agnis can master it he can become filthy rich?

“The chance is small but yes.” Let’s bring him here next time! So how do we become adventurers? We? I thought YOU wanted to become an adventurer.

Come on, Ted, do you think it's a good idea to let me adventure alone? That! … Shit you got me…

Hehe, mimicking Agnis is quite effective.

“When you go out of this shop and go to the back there is a registration counter to the right, you go there to register and to handle procedures regarding going up in adventurer rank.” Thanks! Let’s go, Ted! Yes, yes! Don’t pull! We went to the back to register but there were quite a lot of people.

Meh, I hate waiting! We looked around and saw some rowdy adventurers bunched up in a corner.

“Hey, missies do you want to join our group?” Great, we instantly get a cliché situation. Hey, Ted let's help them! We got closer and saw two girls surrounded by rowdy adventurers.

“Uhh, I’m sorry guys, we don’t want to…” Holy shit Ted, look that blonde with curly hair is super-hot! Is this the time to say that?

Hey guys, I would appreciate it if you would move aside, they’re with me! This would never work!

“Who is this brat!”

“Move away kiddo, we’re talking to these chicks.” Yes, and I’m saying they're with me!

“I’m sorry guys but my boyfriend is right, we’re with them, come Tania.”

“Are you sure Shania?”

“Of course, my boyfriend will protect us!” The two girls called Tania and Shania walked over to us and Shania locked her arms with Raishin. I was honestly shocked that this worked. Now scram! You’re disturbing our date!

“Hey, we found them first!” Fuck off! Raishin added some intimidation and the men backed off. Which was surprising since they seem older and more experienced than us. I really can’t explain how shocked I was by this situation.

“Thank you very much! Ehmm.” My name is Raishin and this here is Ted.

“I’m Shania and this is my acquaintance, Tania.” Oh, you’re not friends? And I’m just warning you two this guy is horny and crazy. Hey Shania, You’re very attractive, will you be my girlfriend?

“Hey back off creep!”

“I appreciate it Tania but I’m quite interested in him, sure Raishin, I will be your girlfriend.” Aww, at least I tried... Wait what? That worked?! That worked?

“Shania?” Uhm are you sure? This guy is crazy. I looked at Raishin and he was happily dancing.

“I liked his assertiveness and he stood up to those that were way bigger and stronger than him, I’ve been here for over 6 months and this doesn't seem to be common, moreover, come on Tania, look at him, he’s quite hot.” I can’t believe that worked…

“Are you sure about this?” I will do my best to treat you well!

“So, tell me more about you and Ted.”

“Thank you for helping us guys but I have to go, I will keep an eye out on you guys if you hurt Shania, my daddy will bury you!” That sounds reassuring…

“She is the daughter of the vice president of the Adventurer Association. Don’t mind her, I know what I’m doing.” Do you?

“Hmm, well you guys seem well-mannered although a bit crazy but I like crazy, you were prepared to defend us even though there was no merit for you in any way and both of you are quite hot. Moreover, my woman’s intuition is never wrong!” Yes! My first girlfriend! Let's go on a date! Hold on horny-pants, did you forget what we came to do here?

Pick up, girls? I facepalmed.

Register to become adventurers. Remember? But I got a girlfriend now!

How are you going to pay for your dates if you’re broke? … let’s go register to become adventurers!

I swear this guy… Shania chuckled and we went to register to become adventurers. It seemed Shania already was an E-rank adventurer, we started as F-rank adventurers. Hey! Why do I have to start at F? I’m super strong!

“Trust is also important to become an adventurer, it is possible to start as a D-rank but you need money and an assessment to see how strong you are.“ So, you have been an adventurer for a while then?

“Not that long, but it’s not hard to go from F to E rank, you either need to be an active adventurer for 2 months or bring in results.” Ooh, so what are you good at?

“Oh, my role is a Silent Night.” You’re a knight?

“Haha, no silly every role has a specific name, these names are the ones belonging to the first impactful individuals that made waves in the Sichar tournaments” The what? I’m sorry Shania, we’re not from around here, not even this country we came from a small isolated village. Shania giggled and she led us to a shop that sells gear.

“Oh, that is no problem. So, every 4 years there is a big tournament in Sichar, just over the border in Hjuva, you do know that strong adventurers or just fighters, in general, get nicknames, right? Well, those get used in that tournament, if you don’t have any that is probably where you will get one or at your Adventurer's Association.” Ooh, so I can get the name Sexy Lightning?

“Maybe, but this is mostly a name others give to you either because it’s a trait or you have an impactful skill with the same name, so if you want it, you should behave like sexy lightning. Anyways back to the roles, Silent Night was a rogue-like adventurer that made a big impression in that tournament so any roguelike fighter gets the role name: Silent Night.” Hmm quite a cliché name, so does this mean that Agnis is also a Silent Night?

“Agnis?” Oh, he is our friend, we are here with 2 more of our friends Agnis and Gregory, Agnis has rogue-like tendencies but also other fighting styles so I’m curious what role he would get if he becomes an adventurer. Yeah, I’m sure you will like them! Agnis is funny and has a shitty memory, if we introduce you to him make sure to remind him of your name coz he will forget!

Gregory is quite serious and will probably be the most skeptical of your relationship with Raishin, they will mean well but to be honest they are quite blunt.

“Oh, it does sound like your group needs a female touch then!” Uhh, sure… Yeah! I love you guys but I’m tired of this sausage fest!

Is there no other way to say that? Shania showed us the shop but we indicated that we don't need anything from there. We told her more about us after which I let Raishin spend some time with her since I found a section where sparring matches were held between martial artists. I decided to tell Shania that we would go look for the other 2 in an hour. Sadly, I trust a stranger more in this than Raishin. The matches were interesting to watch. I saw some interesting moves but nothing that surprised me. I went back to the man hall and I saw Shania pulling Raishin to me. It seems that you were a good choice.

“Thank you, I understand him a bit more now, don’t cause so much trouble for Ted, Raishin.” I don't get what's going on I met her a bit over an hour ago and she already seems like she has known me for years… You’re just that simple, let's go. We went back to the hotel with the floating platforms, correctly this time, but they didn't seem to have returned yet.

There is a high probability they went to the library; do you know where it is?

“It is close to the central plaza; we need to take the green platforms to the center.” We got off near the center and we heard music in the background. “Oh wow, that sounds amazing!” Hehe, that's my friend playing there!

“You’re not trying to impress me by deception, are you?” This is something he could do yes, but unfortunately, he is right this time… Even Greg… what are they doing? We approached the crowd that was gathered around. It seems Agnis and Greg were helping a random musician with [Boss music]. After they finished, the crowd went wild and Agnis played a familiar piano piece.

Oooh, this is what Paul played back then!

“I thought you said he was a blacksmith?” Yeah, but this guy just does whatever he wants and is quite good at it also… He finished and looked quite tired. A man approached them but left shortly after and we approached them.

Hey guys! Oh hey, Raishin, Ted, and hmm do I know you?

See! I wasn’t lying when I told you I know them!

“It is nice to meet you Gregory and Agnis, my name is Shania, and the performance you 2 had was marvelous!” Aha… Hey Ted what is going on? Greetings, I’m Gregory and this strange rude guy is Agnis. Well, some things happened and… Hehe Agnis and Greg, meet Shania, my girlfriend!

What? Excuse me? I got pulled to the side by Agnis.

Hey Ted, is this chick blind? Or did he drug her? Hey, I don’t know! She seems genuinely interested in Raishin! Gregory joined us.

Hey, Ted, this isn't a trap, right? An attractive and seemingly intelligent woman falling for Raishin? Is today the day we die? See! I was thinking the same! Maybe she is one of those assassins who use the ‘Honeytrap’ technique to ensnare Raishin! Ooh, I like me some honey! Wait what is a honeytrap?

Well, you see…

“Ahum, you guys know that I can hear you right?” Shit, she is on to us! We should have prepared against eavesdropping! Agnis took on a battle stance and I facepalmed.

“Haha, you were right your friends are really interesting!” I know right? Psst Saria, if he is holding you against your will, blink twice.

Hey! I didn't do whatever you think I did!

“My name is Shania, by the way.” Agnis jumped back and seemed surprised. Maybe the addition of Shania to our group is a good idea. A mind reader! No dumbass, Ted or Raishin probably told her that you suck at remembering names.

Oh. We talked a bit with Shania and she kept reminding Agnis of her name which kept startling him.

“Agnis, my name is Shania.” Stop mindreading! Haha, Agnis you're so forgetful!